by Martha Carr
“Here we go, folks! A late entry riding Beaufort!”
“You go on, if you need to. I’m staying here to watch the riders. That troll will be fine,” Mara pronounced firmly. She wasn’t going anywhere.
Leira scrambled down the bleachers to head toward the row of food stands over by the rides, Correk close behind her.
“That’s a hairy son of a bitch,” said an old man with a leathery face wearing a beat up white cowboy hat.
“What’s that he’s wearing? Are those assless chaps?” A man was standing with his hand shading his eyes, straining to get a better look.
Leira stopped and slowly turned, sure she knew what she was about to see. Correk was already moving closer to the fencing.
Yumfuck was twelve times his size wearing a borrowed cowboy hat, holding on to the thick rope with one hand, the other in the air as Beaufort did all he could to buck off the oversized troll.
“My money’s on the troll. He’s all muscle.” Correk stood by the fence, his hands on his hips.
“You’re proud of him? You’re missing the point. There are phones here.”
“He’ll shrink down again, disappear into the crowd. Your internet will rave about a yeti showing up at a rodeo and some yahoo will claim it was him in a costume. Everyone will move on to the next stupid video. I’m not worried.”
“The Silver Griffins are no longer a worry?”
“That’s not magic. That’s a troll riding a bull. That’s entertainment! Besides, they all know how hard a troll is to keep contained.”
Leira stopped arguing long enough to take a good look at Correk. He was doing his best to enjoy this night. It’s that bad. What’s coming. He thinks it’s that bad. She cocked her head to the side. He’s trying to protect me. Okay, for today, Cousin, but only today. You’re going to have to learn how to let me take my chances, even if we are family.
“Twenty-five seconds! A new Austin Rodeo record! Someone get that hairy son of a bitch’s name!” The announcer’s voice cracked with excitement.
“Come on, he’s off the bull and running for the fence. We need to be over there to scoop him up.”
Yumfuck ran for the wall, turning at the last second as Beaufort rammed the wall with his horns. The troll dodged around a blue barrel as the clowns distracted the bull. Yumfuck ran back toward the wall, sliding around the back as he shrank back down to his normal size of five inches, getting lost under the cowboy hat and rolling in the dust.
“Where’d the feller go?”
“He was just here! What the hell was he wearing? A cow onesie?”
Yumfuck scurried along the backside of the wall, making his way between the moving feet as everyone looked around for the missing rider. Correk found him just as he got to the side of the announcer’s booth slipping back into his cowboy boots and hat. He scooped him up and put him into his shirt pocket where he could lean out of the top, holding onto the shirt.
“Did you think we wouldn’t notice you riding a bull?” Correk looked over at the crowd, still buzzing about the mysterious rider even as someone else took their turn.
“America’s Got Talent!”
“That’s enough for one day. Nesturnium.” The troll blew a raspberry at Leira and she blew one right back at him. “We’ll still ride a few rides but you’re doing it from the comfort of Correk’s pocket. No more growing into something bigger.”
“That was pretty cool, though.” Correk shrugged at Leira, holding up his hand near his pocket so the troll could high-five him with his tiny paw. “I’d actually try that if we had more time.”
“Yeah, time is what’s stopping you.”
“I could do it. I’ve told you. Light Elves are gifted athletes.”
“Big difference between bowling and riding an angry ton of beef. Come on, let’s go see if we can pull Nana away from the human beefcake long enough to ride the Ferris wheel. I’ve always loved that view and it’s been years since I’ve seen it.”
Correk caught himself and grew thoughtful. “Fifteen years, isn’t it? Well, it’s about time. Will make me feel like I’m back in my room in the castle.”
They stayed till dark, riding every ride, including the roller coaster holding the troll tight over their heads as he screamed with delight and the Gravitron that spun so fast they were all pinned against the thick pads behind them. By the time they finally found Eireka and Donald and got back to the Mustang the troll was fast asleep in Correk’s pocket and Leira and Correk were laughing over the troll’s jowls shaking in the wind on the swings.
“Thank you for teaching me how to do this, Cousin.” Leira slid into the driver’s seat as Correk got in, making sure he didn’t wake the troll. “It’s a rare thing to learn how to be happy in the moment no matter what’s going on around you.”
“I suspect Turner Underwood has a little to do with your new skill as well.”
“He tells me to do it and you show me how it’s done. Tonight was a lot of fun, even if tomorrow you tell me the truth and we fight the bogeyman.”
“It will take more than the two of us or even what can fill a hotel room this time. We will need help.”
“I’m going with you to Oriceran. I know that’s where you’re headed. Don’t slip out without me. I’m going with you.”
“You’re right, it’s your home as well and your power is going to be needed. But, heed my warning, be very careful when we’re there. Give nothing away about what we suspect or that we’re even worried about anything when we’re out in public. Surprise at this moment is all we have on our side. Before we go, we need time to gather more information if we are to prevent another widespread war. And you need to get even better at harnessing all of your power.”
“A war… Let’s start with Turner Underwood. I have a feeling he knows more than he’s telling us, anyway.”
Chapter Thirteen
The plan was simple. The celebrity Penny Ryan was going to be eating lunch outside on the patio at the current hot spot, Il Pastaio in Beverly Hills. Her publicist made a point of alerting the paparazzi on the sly, and a Gnome photographer passed the word back to the prophets.
By the time Penny arrived there was a large gathering of tourists and photographers all vying for a spot on the sidewalk being held back by a small crew of overgrown bodyguards. Penny pulled up in her trademark cream-colored Cadillac and got out handing her keys to the valet, a Light Elf placed there by the prophets.
A Wizard posing as a hipster in a man bun, turned into a crazed stalker when he got close enough to Penny to start ranting and lunge at her with a sharp knife. The damage was done before anyone even understood what was happening. Two Kilomeas posing as bodyguards and glamoured to look human shoved the tourists aside, jumping on top of the Wizard. One of them stood on the Wizard’s hand till the bodyguard could pick up the knife and hold it out in front of himself between two fingers.
Smart phones came out of pockets from every angle as people recorded the mayhem. Whispers could be heard in the background and only a couple of people thought to use their phone to call for an ambulance.
Suddenly, gold and silver sparks started spitting out of the air from under the stiff white awning. A portal opened, hanging in the air between the entrance and the crowd on the sidewalk. All the phones immediately swung toward the opening, recording the sudden appearance of a lush forest in the middle of North Canon Drive, as the large Crystal prophet climbed over the edge of the portal and onto the sidewalk.
“It’s a stunt. They’re doing some Marvel movie. Is she even hurt?” The Witch prophet followed quickly and waved her wand, lifting the man into the air several feet as he shrieked. She gently put him back down again and went to the wounded celebrity, kneeling by her side and comforting her. The Crystal helped the Gnome prophet through the portal and he made his way to Penny, pulling a small leather pouch out of his robe. There was already a pool of darkening blood around her and her breath was getting shallow and raspy.
“Give me space!” he shouted, waving his arm
s at the crowd. The two bodyguards pushed the crowd back giving a much better view of the girl on the sidewalk and the strange creatures huddled around her. The Witch made sure to not block the cameras as the Gnome knelt down exposing the gash as Penny screamed out in pain. There was a murmur through the crowd as the wound oozed blood. The Gnome pulled out some of the powder in the pouch and rubbed it into the wound. “Experialis, dragonus.” Only the first part of the spell was needed to activate the powder. The powder started to sizzle and sink deep into her skin as the wound slowly disappeared.
The rest was for the cameras to ensure no one missed the point. Magic had landed on Earth.
The second part of the spell caused a small dragon to appear in the air, beating its wings, rustling the bushes that ran along the outside of the tables and blowing everyone’s hair around in a whirl. The dragon let out a high-pitched screech and flew into the portal, disappearing as it flew higher above the trees. The Gnome knew how much the humans loved a plot twist and some drama.
Penny Ryan finally came around just as the ambulance arrived and was helped onto the gurney as the Gnome raised his hands to get everyone’s attention.
“Who are you?” someone shouted from the push of people still trying to get a better look. The attacker was all but forgotten. Wizards posing as police hustled him off to cheers from the crowd. They drove away, lights wailing.
The plan is working, thought the Gnome. He smiled at the crowd as he got into position in front of the open portal. The chatter in the crowd only grew as more people came rushing over to see what was happening.
“What the hell just happened?”
“There are fucking aliens in Beverly Hills! I am not surprised.”
“Is this for real? You guys casting? I have a head shot here somewhere.”
“Hey, you guys get out of my way! I’m late for a meeting in there!”
“Those robes are amazing! The stars on them move every time one of them turns around! Can I get a picture with you?”
He nodded to the Witch who gave a wave of her wand, silencing the crowd. He waited a moment, giving everyone a chance to settle down, take it all in and catch on that there was an actual hole torn in the ozone.
“We are from Oriceran, your sister planet just on the other side of the veil.” He pointed to the portal, passing his hand through and jostling a nearby plant. He hummed a song as the plant leaned toward him, opening large pale pink bulbs. A sleeping Pixie woke up, startled and flew off into the woods.
“Tinkerbell!” someone gasped.
“We saw what was happening and heard that young woman’s cry. We had to do something even if it meant risking everything and telling you of our existence.”
“How did you fix her? What was that stuff?”
Play to their ego. Tell them they’ve got one on us. “You see, where you are more advanced technologically than we are, we have something you have only dreamed of in movies and books.” The Gnome muttered a spell and lifted a foot off the ground as a glowing haze of purple surrounded him. “Magic. We’re here to help and we want to get to know you. Tell your friends, share this story. Magic is real.” He ended with a flourish, throwing his cape over his shoulder and climbing through the portal. The others quickly followed until the Witch climbed through and closed the portal with a spectacular display of sparks.
“Damn! They just beamed themselves up!”
A waiter quickly arrived with a bucket of water, washing away the blood on the street as the crowd dispersed, already posting, snapchatting, reddit and tweeting. Within the hour the story went viral and trucks with large satellites on top were parked outside the restaurant broadcasting live even though by then there was nothing left to see.
“Aliens emerged from what was called a portal today in posh Beverly Hills.” An anchor from a cable entertainment show did her best serious and concerned face as she told the story. The world was on the edge of their seats, wondering if it could be true.
There was an entire planet on the other side of the veil.
“What did they call it? Oriceran?”
Katie Toler sat in the folding chair, happy to be able to shed the glamour and let her tentacles unfurl down her shoulders, gently massaging her neck. She knew Lacey Trader wasn’t happy that the necklace was still out there but she also knew she had given it everything she had. Hell, May Sage got herself injured trying to retrieve the damn thing.
Katie sat back, waiting for the Silver Griffins to finally make their way into the theater and hit her with a barrage of questions. She looked at her phone. “Two minutes late. Not like this bunch?” She got up and walked into the hallway. “Hello? Did I get the day wrong?”
A young Witch appeared on the stairs coming up from the vault.
“I was told to give you a message. The meeting’s been cancelled. Lacey Trader will get in touch with you to reschedule.”
“Now, what could be so damned important they’d drag me all the way here just to cancel? Is this the punishment? Mild annoyances?”
“The prophets appeared in Beverly Hills today and saved Penny Ryan’s life before announcing to the world about Oriceran and that magic is real.”
“What, no fucking way!” For once, Katie was speechless.
“I’m sorry, I have to go. Things are blowing up, some of it literally. People are breaking the rules about magic left and right. Reports of someone growing a taller fence right in front of their neighbors and someone else using a wand to get their waiter to come back to the table. Small stuff now…”
“But it’ll grow into something bigger.”
“I heard that someone stole a parking place using magic. The human got out and ran away, leaving their car. That one’s not substantiated yet but it doesn’t look good. The Silver Griffins are out stamping it all down, handing out fines. In the light of what the prophets did, they’re giving everyone one pass, as long as no one was harmed.”
Katie let out a breath. “That was a lot of information in one blast? Well, then, I’ll be on my way. Please tell Lacey I will be continuing my mission and will report in as soon as I have made progress, which I hope to be soon?”
Katie pulled out her wand and waved it around her head, changing the tentacles back into long, blonde tresses. “I was half-tempted to leave them but I suppose even after everything the humans have seen it would freak out one or two of them? Medusa ruined it for Atlanteans with the whole snake thing. Not even the same,” she said, “but try telling someone while they’re passing out.”
The Witch blinked, not sure what to say. “Okay, well, then we’ll be in touch. No, you’ll be in touch. Right, okay. So, I’ve got to go.” She backed away till she got to the stairs and turned, taking them as quickly as she could, disappearing at the bottom into the vault, closing it behind her, the tumblers turning to lock it.
“Good idea,” whispered Katie. “If magic is breaking out all over, there will be some who look to take advantage of an opportunity or two. Best they not get any more assistance. That damn necklace is enough of a problem child.”
The dark mist seeped through the world in between, sliding down wormholes and gliding into different places overlooking the two worlds where it could feel the dark, shimmering trails of a twisted spell or a dark push of energy. It was in search of dark magic to absorb, greedily seeking out the practitioners and dragging them inside. Gathering dark energy any way it could was the only thing it knew. The only mission it had.
There was no thought that ran through the dense knots and pulsing mist. Only a swirling desire to have more dark energy.
So far, it had found eight young practitioners who answered the call, listened to the whispers. The black mist knew how to beckon those who played with dark magic, soothing them into coming closer to where the veil was thin in the world till the shroud could gather round them.
Its energy was growing slowly, too slowly but there was not much that could be done about that. More powerful practitioners were strong and could resist the urge, brushing it
aside. It was alright. The dark mist never knew time and was patient, even now to gather what it could. Time was on its side anyway in the world in between, even if it was because it never passed.
May Sage stood next to Lacey Trader, her hip jutting out and a smile on her face. Her long black leather jacket hanging open. “Well done, old girl. Couldn’t have done that one better myself.” They were standing in Lincoln Square in Chicago watching as a group of local magical beings pulled themselves off the ground. Their clothes were still smoldering from where Lacey managed to lasso them all with a winding bolt of low-level lightning. “Next time, I up the amps!” Lacey shouted.
She stood there whacking her wand in the palm of her hand, daring anyone to try something else. The magical creatures were there to show any humans who passed by a thing or two about magic. They said it was like a show. Lacey was not amused. She waved her wand high in the air in an arc sending out a shower of sparks as she said in a bellowing voice, “Never was, never will be!”
All of the humans froze where they were as the assortment of Elves, Witches, Wizards, and other magical creatures hurried off to their homes.
“You have to do this. We can’t leave Hannah there.” Lacey didn’t look at May. She wanted to make sure no one doubled back. She was ready to make an example of someone. Her temper was growing shorter by the moment.
“Can’t do it. You know I’m right. I’m needed elsewhere. Let those two older birds do it. Those friends of yours, Patsy and Lois. I imagine the government is spinning its wheels right now trying to figure out exactly what to do. It’ll be a day or two before they figure things out. Take advantage of it. Leave me in the shadows where I’m useful.”
Chapter Fourteen
Patsy was well into her second big bag of peanut M&Ms, crunching them so fast she was barely tasting them. All hell was breaking loose. The virtual screens were spitting out symbols the two witches had never seen before, making loud noises like metal gears grinding against each other.
